Kremlin: Russia maintains contacts with both sides of the conflict in the Middle East

Russia maintains contacts with both sides of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, since both there are Russian citizens whose fate is a priority. This was stated by the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov, answering the question whether Russia plans to recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization, as France and the EU previously did.

“We maintain our contacts with the parties to the conflict. There are Russian citizens both there and there; for us, the fate of Russian citizens is priority number one,” he said.

Russia, Peskov emphasized, continues to carefully analyze the situation and “maintains its position as a party that has the potential to participate in settlement processes.”

October 11 Peskov statedthat the situation following the attack by Palestinian militants on Israel is dangerous due to the potential escalation of the conflict. Now, the Kremlin believes, it is important that the parties to the conflict maintain restraint, and only people who have the political will to participate in the settlement process should have anything to do with what is happening.

On the morning of October 7, Hamas began military operations against Israel. In response, the Israeli army launched Operation Iron Swords. The government announced that the country had entered a state of war. According to the latest data, more than 2,000 people have died as a result of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 900 people were killed, and more than 4,500 were injured. On the Israeli side, more than 1,200 people were killed and over 3,400 more were injured. Among the dead are four Russian citizens, the Russian Embassy in Tel Aviv reported earlier.